Overview
- On Thursday Lionsgate motion picture chief Adam Fogelson told analysts the studio is aiming to begin production toward the end of 2026 or early 2027 with a release window around late 2027 to the first half of 2028.
- Fogelson said several big musical sequences shot during the first film are almost certain to be incorporated into the sequel, which the studio views as a way to speed production and control costs.
- The original movie was reworked after attorneys discovered a settlement clause that barred depiction of one accuser, forcing costly reshoots and leaving later periods of Jackson’s life offscreen; those legal limits continue to shape what the sequel can cover.
- Lionsgate has not yet confirmed a formal greenlight, the director, a full cast list, or a final budget, though industry reporting expects Jaafar Jackson to reprise the role.
- The first film’s unprecedented box‑office performance gives Lionsgate a long‑tail revenue plan and franchise incentive, and the sequel could explore Jackson’s post‑Bad era and its commercial moments and controversies as legal and creative decisions allow.